Having driven your Nissan Frontier for 200-300 miles over the course of a few days is usually all it takes to make the emission monitors ready or complete. Sometimes however the driving pattern required to complete the emission monitors are not met during normal city/highway driving, and following the required and specific drive cycle/pattern is needed.
Below we indicate the drive cycle required for Nissan Frontier vehicles, step-by-step. Following the drive cycle below (at least twice) will make the required emission monitors READY/COMPLETE.
Take extra caution while performing drive cycles on public roadways. If you think you will be unable to follow the Nissan Frontier Drive Cycle below safely, seek the assistance of a smog check repair station or Nissan dealership.
Nissan Frontier Drive Cycle for OBDII Monitors
Pre-Conditioning Requirements:
Ensure the MIL (malfunction indicator lamp) is not on.
Gas tank fuel level must be between 15% and 85% at all times.
Drive cycle must start while engine is cold. Best performed in the morning, after being parked overnight. The actual requirement is that the engine be between 68 and 86 degrees F prior to the start of the drive cycle.
Drive Trace:
A. Start your truck and idle engine until coolant temperature reaches 160F (until normal operating temperature is reached).
B. Using a timer, idle the engine for an additional 1 1/2 minutes.
C. Begin driving. Accelerate smoothly to 56 mph with the transmission in (D) and overdrive ON, then release gas pedal and coast for 10 seconds.
D. Accelerate to 56 mph and maintain speed for at least 10 minutes. Use smooth and quick acceleration and maintain speed as constant as possible.
E. Stop and idle your Nissan Frontier for 10 seconds.
F. Accelerate to 25 mph in 10 seconds and hold gas pedal steady for 20 seconds. Use smooth and quick acceleration and maintain speed as constant as possible.
G. Repeat steps E and F eight (8) times. Decelerate (coast down) to 15 mph and then drive for 13 minutes at speeds between 15mph and 35mph.
H. Accelerate to 53-56 mph and maintain speed for at least 6 minutes. In this step it is more important to maintain accelerator pedal position than speed. Therefore you are allowed 3 mph fluctuation in speed, but must try and keep the gas pedal steady.
- End of Drive Cycle -
If all emissions systems are functioning properly, completing the drive cycle above will set the emission monitors (also known as readiness flags) required to pass the smog check. We recommend performing the drive cycle at least twice before visiting a smog check station.
